Seton Hall falls to Cincinnati; has now lost seven of past eight games

Cincinnati's Cheikh Mbodj loses the ball as he is surrounded by Seton Hall's Haralds Karlis (13), Brandon Mobley (2) and Aaron Cosby, right, during the first half.

NEWARK – For 15 minutes Saturday, Seton Hall fans could reminisce about the good old days as former coach P.J. Carlesimo and several players from the Pirates’ 1992-93 Big East regular-season and tournament champions were introduced.

The next five minutes of game time were a cruel reminder of the current reality.

Cincinnati scored the first 15 points of the second half to build a 20-point lead and then withstood a furious rally for a 65-59 victory at Prudential Center.

The Hall (13-9, 2-7 Big East) has lost seven of its last eight games.

“If we play those first five minutes [of the second half] the way we played at the end, it may be a different outcome,” said junior forward Brian Oliver. “I think that honestly comes with a little more maturity. [Cincinnati] came out with a little more edge and a little more fire than we did, and that killed us.”

“Fortunately we have veterans where Seton Hall does not,” Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said. “They’re just too young right now.”

That Big East inexperience showed itself in the opening stretch of the second half, and the final minutes. Sean Kilpatrick’s three-pointer with 15:02 to go put the 24th-ranked Bearcats (18-4, 6-3) ahead 48-28. But Cincinnati later went scoreless for more than five minutes as the Pirates scored 13 straight points to cut the deficit to 52-48.

Brandon Mobley, who scored 16 points and shot 6-for-8 from the floor, made a trey to cut Cincinnati’s lead to 56-52 with 3:18 left. But Mobley briefly lost track of Kilpatrick (21 points) on defense and the junior guard drained a three from the left corner for a 59-52 lead with 1:50, starting a 7-0 run for Cincinnati.

Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard called the shot “kind of a back-breaker.”

Mobley, who is playing through discomfort in his right shoulder, which is encased in a bulky brace to keep it in place, said he was supposed to switch with Fuquan Edwin (16 points) and defend Kilpatrick, but said, “I didn’t hear him [call out the switch]. I went to the middle.”

Mobley “is sacrificing himself [for the team] right now,” said Willard, noting the sophomore forward will need shoulder surgery after the season.

“We’re not that far away,” Willard said. “Most of our guys are young guys and are going through [tough times] right now.”

Carlesimo addressed the crowd at halftime and preached patience, alluding to how his early years at Seton Hall weren’t that good.

“It’s important for you to understand Kevin is doing a great job,” he said. “Please support him and his players the way you supported us, and there’s a great future for Seton Hall basketball.”

Willard praised Carlesimo as a friend and “good sounding board,” and when Carlesimo’s comments were relayed to him, he joked, “I slipped him a 50” dollar bill on his way out.